The winners and losers from a wreck-filled NASCAR Cup race at Texas

Joey Logano is playoff-bound as soon as once more, main a trio of drivers who began twenty fourth or worse however ended the day with podium finishes at Texas. The pole-sitter wrecked, the surface pole-sitter had an incident on pit highway, and the race actually flew off the rails within the last stage. It was warning after warning with Michael McDowell practically securing an enormous win for the underdogs in a dramatic showdown for the win earlier than discovering the wall.

So, who got here out on prime as winners and the losers from the curler coaster trip that was NASCAR Cup at Texas…

WINNER: Logano exhibits how a win modifications every part in trendy NASCAR 

The three-time and defending Cup Collection champion has had a tough begin to the 2025 season. It took him seven races to even rating a prime ten after which misplaced his solely prime 5 to a post-race disqualification final weekend at Talladega. However all that discuss a post-title hunch has now vanished as Logano escaped the chaos and claimed victory at Texas. Out of the blue, all these irritating weekends do not matter as he is now certainly one of seven drivers locked into the playoffs. What was certainly one of his worst season begins is now one other potential run on the Cup for Logano. It additionally continues a formidable streak of Logano profitable a minimum of one race yearly, going all the best way again to 2012.

LOSER: Blaney for willingly giving up observe place

Watch: Ryan Blaney: ‘Cannot do nothing proper presently’

I needn’t hammer Ryan Blaney for this determination as he did loads of that himself, nevertheless it was stunning when he willingly gave up the entrance row on a late-race restart the place observe place was every part. So as to add insult to damage, it was the identical restart the place Michael McDowell (who was at a drawback with two older left-side tires), snatched the lead away from Kyle Larson. Blaney later lamented his “dumb determination” and mentioned he “cannot do something proper presently.” He is now the one Penske driver with no win this 12 months, so the strain is on to lastly attain Victory Lane, and hopefully Sunday’s determination would not hang-out him because the season progresses.

WINNER: McDowell places all of it on the road for the underdogs

Michael McDowell crash injury, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Photograph by: Matt Pearce Icon Sportswire Getty Photos

It led to tears, however we now have to offer reward to veteran driver Michael McDowell. He drove his coronary heart out at Texas, taking the lead with a tire drawback after which holding on for the a number of restarts that adopted. He was simply 4 laps away from securing Spire Motorsports its first Cup win in practically six years and solely misplaced the lead after blocking Logano all the best way to the apron. He actually did every part he may and even after shedding the lead, he did not surrender. He saved pushing, which led to him crashing into the surface wall whereas operating third, ending his inspiring run. It was virtually one for the underdogs, however even in defeat, he placed on a present that made him a ‘winner’ this weekend.

LOSER: Hamlin as his spectacular lead lap streak ‘burns’ away

Denny Hamlin

Photograph by: FOX Sports activities

Denny Hamlin entered Talladega with zero DNFs this 12 months and a series-leading streak of 21 consecutive races the place he completed on the lead lap. That’s extraordinarily spectacular with how chaotic these races might be, however that every one got here to an finish on Sunday and by no fault of his personal. The race began with some miscommunication over code phrases, which left him mired deep within the pack, however that had no influence on what got here later. Hamlin suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure as his automotive went up in flames earlier than the tip of Stage 1, leaving him with a last-place end and Toyota scratching their heads over what occurred.

WINNER: Chastain, who stays NASCAR’s restart king

Watch: Chastain feedback on his ‘working-class day’ to complete second

Ross Chastain is among the greatest defenders in NASCAR, however greater than that, he’s statistically the most effective restarter within the sport. And that was on full show at Texas when a rash of cautions plagued the occasion within the closing laps. Each single restart, he moved ahead, coming from outdoors the highest ten to march inside the highest 5, reaching all the best way as much as second-place by the point the checkered flag flew. After beginning thirty first and scoring no stage factors, he actually got here out of nowhere on the finish of that one.

LOSER: Hocevar pairs his first profession pole with an avoidable DNF

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos

Carson Hocevar’s weekend began on a excessive be aware with the primary pole place of his profession. However after main early, he misplaced out on the Stage 1 win when some vehicles on a two-tire technique snatched the lead away. From that time onward, he by no means led once more. It was nonetheless a powerful displaying, however a warning in the midst of a green-flag pit cycle left him deep within the pack. And whereas making an attempt to make one thing occur, Hocevar triggered a multi-car crash as he pushed Ryan Preece into the wall. Definitely not the tip he hoped for, ending twenty fourth and clearly angering Preece

WINNER: Legacy Motor Membership leads the best way for Toyota with a double T10

Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos

LMC already has a double prime ten this 12 months, however that got here on the Daytona 500. Sunday’s result’s the group’s first-ever double prime ten at a non-drafting observe with Erik Jones ending fifth and John Hunter Nemechek in eighth. Additionally they led the best way for group Toyota with the very best Joe Gibbs Racing driver in ninth and the very best 23XI Racing driver in 14th. That is one thing we not often — if ever — see, so good on them for surviving the chaos.

LOSER: That annoying bump in Flip 4

Maybe extra irritating than the PJ1-stained observe and unusable higher grooves at Texas Motor Speedway is the evil bump in Flip 4. And sure, I name it evil as a result of it would not play by any guidelines. Generally drivers can run over it and be fully superb, whereas different instances the vehicles instantly spin out from underneath them. That bump claimed a number of extra drivers on Sunday. The primary was Josh Berry, who was main the race and went up there merely looking for a method round a slower, lapped automotive when his personal machine snapped round and slammed the best way. However in a while, it ruined the day of Kyle Busch, who was battling for second on the time and having his greatest run of the 12 months together with his new 7-Eleven colours. He was confused on the radio when the group requested what occurred, failing to grasp why the automotive snapped round then however not in earlier laps.